Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.

Last updated

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.jpg
Murphy performing in December 2011
Background information
Born (1974-08-11) August 11, 1974 (age 50) [1]
Origin Logan County, West Virginia, United States
Genres Jazz
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active2010–present
Labels Sony (2011–present) [2]
Columbia (2011–present) [3]
Website landaumurphyjr.com
PartnerPeyton Konchesky[ citation needed ]

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. (born August 11, 1974) [1] is an American jazz singer from Logan County, West Virginia. He received national attention for winning the sixth season of the NBC reality show America's Got Talent . [4] Landau has released a total of 4 albums [5] since his victory in 2011. Landau used his free time during the COVID-19 pandemic to earn his high school diploma [6] and serves as an advocate for adult education in the state of West Virginia with the West Virginia Department of Education's "It's Never Too Late to Graduate" [7] campaign. [8] Landau continues to advocate for adult education, offering the official Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Scholarship at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in his hometown of Logan, West Virginia. [9] Following his time on America's Got Talent, Landau has continued to host a series of charity events around the state of West Virginia. [10] Landau has since performed around the world, having played in Shanghai, China in 2013 [11] and at the World Expo in Dubai in 2022. [12] Landau continues to perform around the country annually and wraps up every year with a Holiday tour across his home state. [13] In 2014 Landau was listed in the Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans list. [14]

Contents

Early life

Murphy dropped out of high school during his 11th grade year, for 20 years he financially struggled as he drifted between different jobs between Detroit, Michigan and West Virginia. Before his time on television, in 2010 Landau's house was ransacked, leading him to audition for America's Got Talent in the only clothes he owned. [15]

America's Got Talent

In November 2010, Murphy traveled to New York City for the audition. He was selected as the winner of the show on September 14, 2011, after a performance of "My Way", a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. [4] [16] He won the $1 million grand prize and began a headlining act in Las Vegas on October 28. [17]

Performances and results

WeekThemeSong choiceOriginal artistPerformance orderResult
Audition"I've Got You Under My Skin" Frank Sinatra N/ASafe
Vegas WeekJudge's Favorites"I Get a Kick out of You" Ethel Merman N/ASafe
Top 48Quarter-finals"Fly Me to the Moon" Felicia Sanders 7Safe
Top 24Semi-finals"I've Got the World on a String" Cab Calloway 11Safe
Top 10Top Ten Finals"Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" Dean Martin 9Safe
Top 4Finale"My Way" Frank Sinatra 1Winner

Career

That's Life

After winning, Murphy signed to Sony Records and Columbia Records, [3] and released his first album That's Life on November 21, 2011. [2] The album debuted at No. 34 on the Billboard 200, selling 28,000 copies, then fell to No. 41 the next week on the charts. It debuted at number one on the Billboard jazz charts, and also reached No. 1 in the Jazz category on Amazon.com. By May 2017, the album had sold 156,000 copies. [18]

Many have compared Murphy's vocals and phrasing to that of Frank Sinatra, a singer he has always admired. Many of the tracks from That's Life are Sinatra standards. Murphy said of the album, "For a lot of music fans, especially older people, I can bring back some happy memories. And hopefully I can create new memories for generations to come."

That's Life was produced by Steve Tyrell, himself an aficionado of Sinatra's music.

Live performances

As part of his AGT prize, Murphy headlined a show at the Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Other tour stops include the Apollo Theater in New York, the DTE Energy Center in Detroit with The Temptations, headlining appearances at the West Virginia and California State Fairs, a Super Bowl appearance, a televised performance at The Hollywood Christmas Parade and a string of sold-out headlining shows across the USA (many supporting local charities). Major media appearances have included The Today Show, Anderson Cooper, The View, The Talk, The Wendy Williams Show, Fox and Friends, CNN, The Tom Joyner Show, Scott and Todd on WPLJ, and Good Day LA, among others. [18]

He has also sung the national anthem at Madison Square Garden, WVU's Mountaineer Field, prior to a West Virginia University/LSU matchup and at several other public events. [17] In 2017, he continues to give concerts [18]

Education advocacy

Landau used his free time during the COVID-19 pandemic to earn his high school diploma [6] and serves as an advocate for adult education in the state of West Virginia with the West Virginia Department of Education's "It's Never Too Late to Graduate" [7] campaign. [8] Landau continues to advocate for adult education, offering the official Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Scholarship at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in his hometown of Logan, West Virginia. [9]

Charity work

Following his time on America's Got Talent, Landau has continued to host a series of charity events around the state of West Virginia. [10] In 2014 Landau was listed in the Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans list. [14]

Discography


Singles

TitleDetailsPeak chart
positions		Sales
US
Come Home to West Virginia
  • Release date: June 20, 2016
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: CD
—

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart
positions		Sales
US
That's Life
  • Release date: November 21, 2011
  • Label: Columbia, Syco
  • Format: CD, digital download
34
Christmas Made for Two
  • Release date: November 5, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download
—
Landau
  • Release date: December 1, 2016
  • Label: WeberWorks
  • Format: CD, digital download
—
I'M NOT MESSING AROUND
  • Release date: February 10, 2024
  • Label: LEM Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
—

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Logan is a city in Logan County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 1,438 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Logan County.

America's Got Talent is a televised American talent show competition, and is part of the global Got Talent franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle USA and Syco Entertainment, and broadcasts on the NBC television network. It premiered on June 21, 2006, after plans for a British edition in 2005 were suspended, following a dispute within the British broadcaster ITV. Production would later resume in 2007, following the success of the first season. Each season is mainly run during the network's summer schedule, and has featured various hosts over the course of the program's history. The current host is Terry Crews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bianca Ryan</span> American musician (born 1994)

Bianca Taylor Ryan is an American musician, singer and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ryan was the first winner of NBC's America's Got Talent at the age of eleven. Singing two Broadway show tunes along the way, Ryan was announced as the winner of season one on August 17. Her self-titled first album was released later in 2006, followed by two Christmas albums. Two singles followed in 2007 and 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal E. Boyd</span> American opera singer (1975–2018)

Neal Evans Boyd was an American singer who developed an interest in opera after listening to the performances of the Three Tenors. Despite being raised in conditions of poverty within the U.S. state of Missouri, he achieved a degree in music and eventually entered the third season of America's Got Talent, winning that year's competition. In addition to music, he also became involved in politics and conducted performances at many state-wide events across Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Grimm (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter

Michael Joseph Grimm is an American singer-songwriter and winner of the fifth season of America's Got Talent.

Amanda Lynn Harvey is an American jazz and pop singer and songwriter.

<i>Americas Got Talent</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of American talent show competition series America's Got Talent was broadcast on NBC from May 31 to September 14, 2011. No major changes were made in the program's format, although a number of participants who auditioned later dropped out due to obligations outside the competition. However, the season attracted media attention after one of its participants established a world record during their performance on the program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Poppycock</span> American singer

John Andrew Quale is an American singer, songwriter, and performer best known by the stage name and persona of Prince Poppycock. Quale, who specializes in musical theater and opera, describes Prince Poppycock on his website as a "roguish operatic dandy."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcelito Pomoy</span> Filipino singer

Marcelito "Mars" Castro Pomoy is a Filipino singer, known for his ability to sing in both baritone and mezzo-soprano. He is the grand winner of the second season of Pilipinas Got Talent. In 2019, he took part in America's Got Talent: The Champions finishing fourth overall.

West Virginian of the Year is an annual selection by the editorial board of the Charleston Gazette of the individual who best shows the "spirit of West Virginia". The winner can either be a native West Virginian who achieved after leaving the state, or a person living in the state for achievements in the state. The winner is announced in the last Sunday edition of the Charleston Gazette-Mail. It is considered similar to the Time Magazine person of the year award, on a state basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Graceman</span> American musician

Anna Graceman is an American singer, songwriter and recording artist whose self-penned songs and music have garnered national recognition. She has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, America's Got Talent, and CBS News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forte (vocal group)</span> Operatic pop trio from Americas Got Talent

Forte is a classical crossover–operatic pop trio comprising tenors Josh Page, Sean Panikkar and Hana Ryu. Forte was created specifically for season eight of America's Got Talent (AGT) in 2013. After weeks of preparation online, the three original members met in person just two days before their first performance together; afterward, the show's rules forced the group to make a personnel change. The new lineup advanced to the final round in September, where Forte finished in fourth place. Following their elimination, the men accepted a recording contract offered by representatives of Columbia Records, who were waiting for them in the hallway offstage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Williamson</span> American stand-up comic

Taylor Williamson is an American stand-up comic. He is known for finishing as the runner-up on the eighth season of America's Got Talent and as a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace VanderWaal</span> American singer-songwriter (born 2004)

Grace Avery VanderWaal is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is known for her distinctive vocals and has often accompanied herself on the ukulele.

Evelyn Clair Thomas,, better known by her stage name Evie Clair, is a musical artist and reality television personality who appeared on the twelfth season of the talent competition series America's Got Talent.

Kodi Taehyun Lee is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and savant. At 22, he rose to fame on the 14th season of America's Got Talent.

<i>Americas Got Talent</i> season 16 Season of television series

The sixteenth season of the American talent show competition series America's Got Talent was broadcast on NBC from June 1 to September 15, 2021. Although production was still impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, live audiences were involved during audition sessions and live round stages of the competition. After Simon Cowell returned to his role on the program after an accident the previous year, the Judges Cuts round was replaced by him with a new deliberation format arrangement similar to that used in Britain's Got Talent.

Jane Kristen Marczewski, better known by her stage name Nightbirde, was an American singer-songwriter.

Léa Kyle is a French magician who performs quick-change magic. She is known for receiving a Golden Buzzer for her quick-change performance, during her audition on America's Got Talent. She also appeared during the series 15 of France's Got Talent, and the seventh season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

Dustin Tavella is an American magician and singer. He is best known for being the season 16 winner of the NBC show America's Got Talent as a magician.

References

  1. 1 2 "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. – AGTNews.com Finale Interview – 09/14/2011" . Retrieved September 15, 2011– via YouTube.
  2. 1 2 "America's Got Talent winner records his million dollar CD in H-Town with Steve Tyrell". Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Winner of "America's Got Talent," to Release That's Life November 21
  4. 1 2 Harold, Zack. "Logan wigs out for Landau Murphy Jr". Charleston Daily Mail . Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Celebrates 10 Years Since 'AGT' Win With Return to Vegas". Talent Recap. September 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Staff Reports (August 24, 2020). "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. uses pandemic shutdown time to get high school equivalency diploma". WV News. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  7. 1 2 WVDE launches "Never Too Late to Graduate" Campaign with Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. - July 23, 2021 , retrieved May 25, 2022
  8. 1 2 Telegraph, EMILY RICE Bluefield Daily (September 13, 2020). "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. earns his diploma in quarantine". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  9. 1 2 France, Bill (October 19, 2021). "SOUTHERN SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED IN LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY JR'S NAME". EIN News. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Embraces His Fans and Cares for Kids This Holiday Season". WVPB. December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Landau and Burke's Excellent China Adventure". Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ Allen, Burke; Priya, Shaili (March 9, 2022). "DIPLOMACY THROUGH MUSIC: LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY JR. TO REPRESENT U.S.A. LATER THIS MONTH AT DUBAI'S GLOBAL EXPO". EIN News. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Home for the Holidays Tour Morgantown, WV". Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "US Jaycees name Landau one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans". Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Landau Goes Back to School During Pandemic To Earn High School Diploma". Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  16. ↑ Macht, Daniel (September 15, 2011). "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Wins "America's Got Talent"". NBCDFW.com. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  17. 1 2 Shira, Dahvi (September 15, 2011). "Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Wants AGT Win to Inspire Hope". People . Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 Carter, Brooke. "What Happened to Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. – Recent News & Updates", The Gazette Review (Minneapolis, Minnesota), May 29, 2017
  19. ↑ "Building Album Sales Chart". HITS Daily Double. January 16, 2012. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
Preceded by America's Got Talent winner
Season 6 (Summer 2011)		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.